Why Technology Is Making Us Less Productive

Now I don’t know about you, but on any given day, I find myself using more websites, apps and tools, essentially a lot of technology.

Whether you are writing, proofreading, collecting data or note-taking, each piece of technology is designed to improve your efficiency in some way or another. But is this really the case?

And could it be that the tools we use every day are actually making us less productive?

Well, the short answer is yes and the longer answer is a bit more nuanced. Here are some of the issues that technology overload brings up – and how we can attempt to solve them:

Tech Can Be Disruptive

It’s very easy to think of technology as a great way to ramp up productivity. But our digital devices can also be hugely distracting – a ‘ping’ here, a ‘buzz’ there – leading to a constant stream of interruptions.

All of this distraction has clear negative consequences – lower productivity, poorer quality work, even missed deadlines. So what’s the solution?

It’s well-known that taking regular breaks throughout the workday helps with productivity. During these breaks, it’s helpful to find activities that boost energy levels and give your mind a break, such as taking a walk or reading a few pages of a non-work-related book.

Having set times to check messages and catch up on emails can also help us to delegate time more effectively, so we don’t feel pressured to look every time we get a notification.

We’re Spreading Ourselves Too Thin.

It’s easy to lose your focus when you’ve got loads of apps on the go, so make sure that you focus on the core ones that are going to give you the best return on investment when it comes to time spent.

Our colleagues can interrupt us without ever having to physically arrive at our desks. Instant chat expects an instant response – you can be impatient with one another when requests aren’t met with immediate attention.

How can we get around this?

The respondents in the above report suggest incorporating:

Uninterrupted blocks of time

Implementing set times for speaking to colleagues

Set periods of ‘quiet time’

The ‘Techno-Stressed’.

The problem with having being constantly connected is that we end up feeling tied to our devices, often leading to a lack of differentiation between work and home life.

When frequently expected to multitask, the end result will actually mean getting nothing done.

The more time we spend attempting to stay on top of all our tasks, tools and notifications, the less time we have to actually focus on productive work.

What’s the answer?

We Must Use Technology Wisely.

As a civilization all of us have benefitted from the use of technology.